IN CARDIFF CENTRAL

A CLEANER, GREENER, MORE MODERN PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR CARDIFF

Cardiff Council has announced plans for a cleaner, greener, more
modern public transport system. The proposals include an expanded bus
service with cheaper £1 fares, a new tram network and enhanced
regional transport links.

The report brought to Cardiff Council’s Cabinet warns that without
the introduction of a ring-fenced road user payment – it’s
unlikely Cardiff will ever get the transport system it ‘desperately
needs’.

With road transport accounting for almost 40% of Cardiff's carbon
emissions, these measures will go a long way to reduce harmful air
pollution, help make residents healthier and help us reach our climate
commitments.

Read more about the plans and public consultation here
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INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY

At the end of the month, I joined First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS,
Hannah Blythyn MS, Generla Secretary of Wales TUC, Shav Taj and
friends from across the trade union and Labour movement to mark
International Workers Memorial Day.
 

No-one should go to work and not come home at the end of the day. No
family should ever have to suffer that grief. Workplace deaths from
accidents and occupational disease should not happen.

Every year on 28th April, I think of those many families who I had the
privilege to represent at Thompsons Solicitors who had lost someone
through employer negligence in the workplace. I will never forget
them.
 

Thank you to every trade union health and safety rep who leads the
fight to ensure safety at work for their colleagues and families.

Remember the dead and fight for the living.

RECORD LEVELS OF FOODBANK NEED

Latest findings by the Trussell Trust have shown a devastating
increase in emergency food parcels and reveal the price people in
Wales are paying for 13 years of Tory economic failure.

Food banks are stepping in because Conservative ministers in
Westminster let inflation soar, increased taxes on working people and
crashed the economy forcing up mortgages and rents.

A UK Labour government will provide support for domestic
energy-intensive food manufacturers and processors to bring down the
cost of food, paid for with a proper windfall tax on oil and gas
giants.

Read the findings in full here
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SPACE FORGE VISIT

It was fascinating to visit Cardiff based, Space Forge to learn more
about their ground breaking advanced manufacturing work and plans for
the future.

Space Forge is leading the 'new clean industrial revolution' with the
development of the world's first returnable satellite which will be
used to produce particular materials that are very difficult or
impossible to manufacture on Earth – such as new alloys, medicines,
and semiconductors.
Thanks to Josh and Lewis for a really constructive and fascinating
discussion.

COED CAERDYDD MILESTONE

Since October last year, 30,000 trees have been planted in Cardiff as
part of the Coed Caerdydd project.

Residents, local community groups and schools have all played their
part in planting 11.5 hectares of land, the equivalent of 21 football
pitches, with trees.

But there is still much more we can do to increase Cardiff’s tree
canopy from 18.9% to 25%.

Find out how you can get involved  here
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ALBANY PRIMARY SCHOOL BREAKFAST CLUB

It was lovely to have been invited to Albany Primary School breakfast
club to catch up with Mr Howlett, staff and children.
 
I am pleased to have worked alongside staff to secure funding of up to
£1,000 to ensure every child starts their day with a healthy,
nutritious breakfast.

CARDIFF WOMEN'S AID VISIT

Earlier this month, I visited RISE which provides fully integrated
services, alongside their partners BAWSO and Llamau, to victims of
domestic and sexual violence, forced marriage and stalking.

I was pleased to discuss the importance of supporting women & children
throughout their whole journey. We also discussed how we can retain
expert specialist staff who are passionate about providing support but
are suffering as a result of the cost of living crisis.

THE ELECTRIC BIKE SHOP VISIT

Its not just electric cars that are growing in popularity. Electric
bike sales are growing and so I was pleased to be able to visit a
local business, The Electric Bike Shop Cardiff on Queen Street, to try
one out. This is the company’s first shop in Wales and more are
planned. 

If your employer is part of the nationwide Cycle to Work Scheme, you
can save money on the purchase of both electric and traditional bikes.

LAKESIDE CARE HOME VISIT

A pleasure to meet with staff and residents at Lakeside Care Home
which has recently received funding from Barclays to expand capacity
and upgrade facilities.
 
I will also be keeping an eye out for Matron, Helen Simmonds BEM, who
will be attending the King’s coronation next Friday.
 
Thank you to Phil, Helen and the team for showing me around. 

ITV WALES TOUR

It was brilliant to visit the ITV Wales Studios in Cardiff Bay to see
their production facilities, learn more about on-screen & digital
output and to meet some of their incredible team.

I was also pleased to meet new media apprentices Chantelle and Rosie
and have the opportunity to watch the news live from the control
room. 

 

FAREWELL NEIL AND RACHEL

After almost 23 years of service to the people of Penylan, Neil and
Rachel Robjohn have announced that they will be closing their store in
Waterloo Gardens.

I would like to thank Neil and Rachel for everything they have done
for our local community and wish them all the best for the future.
We’ll miss them.

Read more about their story here
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CARDIFF CITY CENTRE

FULL FIBRE NETWORK ROLL OUT

Wales’s leading alternative network provider – Ogi – has
revealed plans to roll out it’s bespoke full fibre network to
Cardiff in a multi-million-pound bandwidth boost.

I was really pleased to meet with representatives of Ogi to hear how
their hardware will provide ultrafast and reliable connectivity to
businesses across the city without the need for expensive leased
lines.

The rollout is expected to be completed by early 2024, with the first
services available much sooner as the network is switched on in
stages. This is part of Ogi’s initial phase to bring full fibre
connectivity to 150,000 premises across south Wales.

Read more about the project here
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COST OF LIVING ADVICE HUB

As the Tory cost of living crisis continues, I know that many
households across Cardiff Central are finding coping with utility
bills, food shopping and debt management more and more difficult. 

I want to make it as easy as possible for residents to access any help
you may entitled to, so I've put together a cost of living advice hub.
this includes links to support for gas, electricity and water bills,
and any benefits or discounts you may be entitled to. 

Cost of living advice hub
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ADVICE SURGERIES

My advice surgery dates for May are below. These are an opportunity
for anyone living in Cardiff Central to come and chat to me about any
issue you might need assistance with or, to ask any question you have
about my work in Parliament and here, on your behalf.

You can see my full plan of surgeries dates online using the link
below – please call my office on 029 2132 9736 – or email me at
[email protected] to make an appointment.

• Friday 12th May – Pentwyn

• Friday 19th May – Cyncoed

• Friday 26th May - Adamsdown

My team and I can also help over email and telephone and you’re very
welcome to get in touch.

KEEP IN TOUCH

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IN PARLIAMENT

WELSH QUESTIONS

This month in Welsh Questions in the Commons, I called out the
Government for their failing record on the economy. While household
bills have skyrocketed and people face the highest tax burden in 70
years, the Tories have prioritised protecting and rewarding the
super-wealthy. 

Watch my contributions here
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CALLING FOR A GENERAL ELECTION

The Prime Minister has no mandate from the public. People need to be
given the opportunity to make a choice about what government they
want.

Rather than wait 12 or 18 months, Rishi Sunak should call a general
election now.

Watch my latest comments to ITV Wales here
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ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BILL

Labour believes in a properly managed and effective asylum system so
that across the UK we fulfil our humanitarian and legal obligations,
to help those fleeing persecution and conflict.

The Tories have broken our asylum system, caused total chaos so that
the speed and quality of decision making has collapsed, the backlog of
cases has soared with the resulting cost to the public purse of
increasing hotel use for people who need a decision on their case so
they can work and rebuild their lives.

Tory Ministers have promised for years that their policies would end
dangerous channel crossings and speed up the asylum system but instead
they have repeatedly made things worse.

Labour will go after the criminal smuggler and trafficking gangs who
are profiting from putting lives at risk. We will clear the asylum
case backlog and end hotel use and, we will work internationally to
ensure safe returns as well as establishing properly managed and
controlled safe, legal routes for people. 

The Tory government’s “Illegal Migration Bill” will not fix the
problem they have created. It will do the opposite. That’s why I and
my Labour colleagues have voted against it.

THE TORY SEWAGE SCANDAL

The Tory sewage scandal has polluted waters and open spaces across the
country, with filthy raw sewage. To make matters worse, not only have
the Tories given the green light for water companies to dump sewage
and neglect our vital water infrastructure, but they've also rewarded
them for it. 

Over the last year, shareholders have walked away with billions in
dividends, while negligent water bosses pocket bumper bonuses. This
cannot continue. 

In the absence of any credible plan from the Tory government, Labour
brought forward legislation to end clean up the mess. Our Water
Quality Bill, would have delivered mandatory monitoring on all sewage
outlets, introduced automatic fines for discharges, and imposed
ambitious targets to stop systematic sewage dumping.

It was disappointing to see so many Tory MP’s line up once again, to
vote to keep dumping raw sewage into our rivers and oceans. The next
Labour government will put Britain's interests before shareholders and
make our waters safe and clean for future generations.

BLOCKING SCAM CALLS

At least 10,000 financial scams are committed every day, often against
pensioners. Every year, millions of people are the victims of online
fraud. It is the biggest category of crime in the UK and those who
commit it seem to have complete impunity.

It doesn't have to be this way. There is one step the Tory government
could take immediately. Labour is proposing that no phone call made
from overseas using a UK telephone number should have that number
displayed when it appears on a UK mobile phone or digital landline;
and that all mobile calls from overseas using a UK number should be
blocked unless the network provider confirms that the known bill payer
for that number is currently roaming.

This would be just one step of the many we need to take to tackle
Britain’s fraud crisis.

OVER 100 POLITICIANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD CALL ON THE TORIES TO DROP
ITS ANTI-STRIKE BILL

More than 100 politicians from 18 countries have signed a joint
statement in opposition to the Tory government’s anti-strike
legislation.

The Tories have tried to justify their draconian ‘Minimum Service
Laws’ by drawing on international comparisons with France, Italy and
Spain.

These comparisons have been totally rejected by the 121 signatories,
which includes politicians from Australia, France, Germany, Ireland,
Italy, and Spain. Amongst the supporters of this joint statement are
politicians from governing parties, former ministers and a former
Prime Minister.

Labour is completely opposed to this attack on the fundamental right
to strike and we will repeal the legislation in government. Not only
that, we will bring forward new employment rights legislation to
ensure that everyone, from their first day at work, has rights and
protections under the law.

Read the statement in full here
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CELEBRATING ONE YEAR OF MENOPAUSE MANDATE

In the space of a year, Menopause Mandate launched a hotline,
published a book and spread menopause awareness to millions on TV,
radio and social media.

It was great to join Carolyn Harris MP and other Parliamentary
colleagues to celebrate this incredible milestone.

CHARITY RETAIL SECTOR EVENT

The Charity Retail Sector raised £363m for good causes in 2021/22 and
help to divert over 330,000 tonnes of clothes from landfill sites
every year. 

I was pleased to meet with representatives of the Charity Retail
Association to discuss how the cost of living crisis is affecting the
sector and share my support for local charity shops in Cardiff
Central. 

[Labour Rose]
 

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